Predicting Jazz Starting Guard Duo to Open the 2023-24 Season

The Utah Jazz have an overabundance of capable guards slated at the one and two spots as we approach the 2023-24 season. Where the roster stands today, there aren't enough minutes to go around for the six players that will be battling to cement themselves in the rotation.

How are the minutes going to be distributed? Which players could be on the outside looking in?

Let’s examine.

Jordan Clarkson

Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker opting in rather than testing the free-agent market is why Utah has a log jam at guard. With Utah re-signing Clarkson to a three-year contract, the former Sixth Man of the Year has a firm grip on his spot in the rotation.

Whether those minutes are best served as a starter or coming off the bench is up for debate, but either way, Jazz fans can expect to see Clarkson getting 30 or so minutes per game.

Collin Sexton

Sexton is another player that has a spot in the rotation on lockdown due to the money owed on his contract and a consistent track record of being a dynamic scorer. However, there’s no guarantee Sexton will be a Jazzman to start the season.

Utah could choose to trade Sexton to create paths for the younger players to develop. If Utah decides to use its depth at the guard position to help fill the void at the backup small forward spot, he could net a quality player in return.

Ochai Agbaji

Abaji's performance in this year's Summer League has been a mixed bag, but Jazz fans can assume his spot in the rotation is safe. The second-year lottery pick out of Kansas owns a skill set that’s unique compared to his competition.

Agbaji being a better defender than Clarkson and Keyonte George will keep him in Jazz games. Agbaji also meshes well with the starting unit due to his ability to excel playing off the ball, especially if Sexton or Horton-Tucker end up being the starting point guard.

Barring an unforeseen roster reshuffle, Agbaji will be one of the first players off the bench or the starting shooting guard if Clarkson reverts back to the sixth man role.

Talen Horton-Tucker

This is where it gets complicated. Did 'THT' parlay the last two months of the 2022-23 season into being the opening-night starter at the one?

He has the highest ceiling of Utah's point guard candidates, but with a high turnover rate and inexperience at the position, he probably isn’t the best option if the team is looking to win games out of the gates. Being a permanent fixture of the rotation should hinge on how THT performs in training camp.

Keyonte George

The No. 16 overall pick of the 2023 NBA draft has impressed thus far in the Summer League, but due to his rookie status, minutes will be hard to come by to start the season. Unless a trade or injury creates an opening, expect George to begin the year at the back of the depth chart.

Kris Dunn

Dunn is the only candidate that doesn’t have a guaranteed contract for the 2023-24 season. The Jazz could elect to release or trade Dunn to clear room for George, or he could very well be Utah’s starting point guard.

Dunn is a better defender than Horton-Tucker and Sexton while also having the most experience in running a half-court offense, but will he be the odd man out due to his contract status?

The way I see it, Dunn and THT will battle for the starting point guard job, with the loser being relegated to the third option behind Sexton.

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